Top trotters, pacers expected for Spartan Futurity

Published 9:00 pm, Sunday, August 4, 2002

Harness racing fans have the opportunity to watch three of the top 2-year-old pacers and trotters next week during the 37th renewal of the Spartan Futurity at the Midland County Fair.

Racing will take place Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. and Monday beginning at 7 p.m.

The Spartan Futurity, one of the richest futurities on the fair circuit, features eight races  four for 2-year-olds and four for 3-year-olds.

"We'll be over $200,000 this year," said Charlie Kline, longtime racing secretary and founder of the Spartan Futurity. That means each purse will be at least $25,000.

The popularity of the Spartan Futurity annually draws some of the top horses and drivers in the nation.

Originally, 757 2-year-olds were nominated for the 2002 Spartan Futurity. As of March 15, 547 remained eligible when their owners made the $50 sustaining payment. Among the 3-year-olds, 875 were originally nominated, and 297 remained eligible on March 15.

Heading the list of 2-year-old pacers this year is Bobnoxious, owned by Dan and Tom Courtemanche of Pinconning, who recently purchased him from Brian Boring of Adrian. Driven by Peter Wrenn, Bobnoxious has won five races and placed second twice. He has a fast time of 1:57 3/5 on a half-mile track.

"He's currently the national season's champion. He has gone faster than any 2-year-old pacer in the country," Kline said.

The second national season's leader to join Bobnoxious is Jenny Rova, a 2-year-old trotting filly owned by Dick Sykes of Vassar and Duane Chippi of Cass City and driven by Carl Putnam Jr. She is undefeated in five starts with a top time of 1:58 4/5.

Tyke Kandu, a gelded trotter owned by Brad Kramer of Lennon and Edward and Cheryl Sayfie of Rockford, is the third national season's leader. He has five wins and one second-place finish, with a season-leading time of 2:02 2/5. Kramer trains and drives Tyke Kandu.

Among the 3-year-olds, Whataterrificfella owned by Dan Taneyhill of Swartz Creek and winner of the Spartan Futurity's 2-year-old colt pace in 2001 is one to watch.

"He won here last year and he's still the best," Kline said.

Chelcy's Agreement, owned by Larry Smith of Kalamazoo, returns this season after capturing the 2-year-old filly trot in last year's Spartan Futurity.

Kline never knows until he opens the entry box how many horses will be entered for each race. If more than 10 are entered, the race will be divided into two elimination heats, with the top four horses in each elimination returning for the final heat.

While these horses are among the favorites, Kline wouldn't be surprised to see some upsets.

"Midland is full of upsets," he said. "We have more upsets here than any place I've ever seen in my life. They come in here and you think they can't be beat and somebody beats them."

Kline attributes much of that to the condition of the fairgrounds track. "The track is good. The horses get out there on that track and feel so good they take off," he said. "If everything is right, I can see us getting some record times."

While Kline will not have any of his horses entered in the Spartan Futurity, he has hopes that Midland will be represented by Doak Stolz and his father, Denny Stolz.

They have indicated that Im All Jazz, a 2-year-old pacing colt, is a likely entry. There also is the possibility they will enter Shareholder, a 3-year-old trotting filly.

If the weather is good, Kline hopes that will entice harness racing fans to come out for an afternoon and evening of fun.

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"This is something senior citizens can come to and enjoy for a small price," he said. "The cost to them is $1. In addition, on Sunday there is no charge for parking."